Paddle shifter for Turbo 400 - Lateral-g Forums

3kidsnotime · #1 05-25-2007, 05:27 PM

Any ideas on a effective paddle shifter for a turbo 400? it seems most are for a E type trans, Cleaning the shop, I was looking at a old clutch turbo trans, and the idea of it with a paddle shifter sounds kinda cool. I might be crazy but just seemed like it would be fun to drive.

**camcojb** · #2 05-25-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3kidsnotime

Any ideas on a effective paddle shifter for a turbo 400? it seems most are for a E type trans, Cleaning the shop, I was looking at a old clutch turbo trans, and the idea of it with a paddle shifter sounds kinda cool. I might be crazy but just seemed like it would be fun to drive.

The only way it would work is if the paddle actuated a cylinder that physically moved the shift lever on the trans. As far as a clutch turbo, I'd definitely re-think that. A friend had one "in the day" and the shifts were very harsh. Figure you have a clutch instead of a converter on each shift, so there's no cushioning of the shifts, it is rough! With big cushy sidewall drag tires it's not as bad as a stiff sidewalled street tire, but more than you'd likely want to live with on a daily basis.

Jody

3kidsnotime · #3 05-25-2007, 06:12 PM

Yes true I have ran the trans, it was in a old corvette I had, was just pondering the idea. I figured I could get the harshness out with line pressure.

hybrid-t · #4 05-26-2007, 03:28 AM

I built something for my Turbo Buick, and he's right. I used a ratchet style shifter and a small air cylinder to actuate it forward and back. The valves rest open, so you can manually shift too. Of course there's the other hardware that goes along with it ( compressor, air tank, etc....), but I've got a paddle shifted 200/4r. I built the paddles myself and modified a MOMO hub for mounts and triggers. Then I had an electrical engineer friend of mine build a translator box that allows me to put 3 different resistance values to the horn wire at the wheel and get upshift, downshift and horn and the bottom of the column. It wasn't easy, but like my dad always told me "nothin' easy is cool, and nothin' cool is easy"

Adam

deuce_454 · #5 05-26-2007, 04:43 AM

hybrid.. that setup is sweeet.. interested in sharing the schematics?? anyway.. darn cool

Musclerodz · #6 05-26-2007, 03:56 PM

Retrotek make a paddle shifter for non-electric trannies, but it is not the same or works near as well as the Shrifter which is for electric trannies only. There will be a delay between shifts because all it is actually doing is electrically moving the gear position on the tranny. If you are serious about it, upgrade to a 4l80e and install a Shrifter

Mike